Ability Quote by Daniel Yergin
“An important United Nations environmental conference went past 6:00 in the evening when the interpreters' contracted working conditions said they could leave. They left, abandoning the delegates unable to talk to each other in their native languages. The French head of the committee, who had insisted on speaking only in French throughout the week suddenly demonstrated the ability to speak excellent English with English-speaking delegates.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: United Nations Climate Conference, 1992
Interpreters left after their shift, forcing delegates to rely on a bilingual French chair for communication.
In simple terms: Interpreters stopped working; French chair switched to English.
Key Takeaway
Plan for multilingual support beyond interpreters.
Themes
communication
language barriers
conference logistics
Mood
frustrated
urgent
Type
political
practical
When to use this quote
- international negotiations
- multilingual meetings
- crisis management
Key Concepts
interpretation
bilingualism
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can conferences ensure continuous language support?
- What backup plans exist for interpreter shortages?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on a single language can marginalize non‑speakers.
![“An actor and a [theatre] director are both what I would call interpreters of work. We interpret a work, just as a musician will interpret a composer's work, we interpret the work of a playwright. We are servants of the theatre and I've always believed that. We must serve what has been written…” quote by George Ogilvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a7/george-ogilvie-34528_actors_an-actor-and-a-theatre-director-are-both_3214543.jpg)
